Chapter 44
By six o’clock on the night before Kayla was getting married, Beth had run out of things to check.
That hadn’t stopped her from trying to find more.
She stood at the kitchen counter with her phone in one hand and tomorrow’s schedule in the other, mentally working her way through it for what had to be the twentieth time.
The Lakeside Grill was ready. Beth had gone there herself that morning and walked through the private dining room with Paul. The tables were arranged exactly as they’d discussed, the veranda had been swept, and the restaurant had the final guest count.
Afterward, she’d stopped at The Flower Cottage, where Paris had shown her the finished arrangements.
Pink and cream roses, pale pink ranunculus, white lisianthus, and soft greenery filled the workroom with color and fragrance.
Kayla’s bouquet had been waiting in the cooler, and Beth had nearly cried when Paris showed it to her.
The photographer had confirmed his arrival time. The cake was finished. Tyler had collected his suit. Ryan knew when and where he was supposed to be tomorrow. And according to every weather forecast Beth could find, May twenty-third was going to be beautiful.
Seventy-two degrees. Sunshine. A light breeze. Beth refreshed the weather app. Still seventy-two degrees.
“Mom.”
She glanced up. Kayla stood on the other side of the kitchen island, staring at her.
“Put down the phone.”
“I was checking something, Kayla.”
“You were checking the weather again. It wouldn’t have changed in twenty minutes.”
Beth reluctantly put her phone on the counter. “There. Are you happy?”
“Very.”
Laughter drifted toward them from the living room.
Tonight’s dinner had been Beth’s idea. With their families arriving for the wedding, it seemed ridiculous to have everyone scattered around Sapphire Bay looking for somewhere to eat.
She’d wanted Kayla and Tyler to have an easy evening surrounded by the people closest to them.
Especially when tomorrow would be a whirlwind of photographs, flowers, speeches, and wedding vows.
At least, that had been the plan. Easy might have been overly optimistic.
Her small home was overflowing. Tyler’s parents had arrived that afternoon, along with his sister and brother-in-law. Ryan was there, as were Jessie’s younger sister, Rosalind, and her husband, Peter.
Susan had dropped off an extra potato salad, Maria had contributed two pies, and Beth had roasted enough chicken to feed a construction crew. It was noisy and crowded, and every available chair had been carried into the living and dining rooms.
Beth loved it.
Kayla opened the refrigerator and reached for a bottle of water. “Are you going to sit down at some point?”
Beth smiled. “I’ve been sitting.”
“When?”
“At dinner.”
Kayla frowned. “You got up six times.”
Beth opened her mouth to argue, but Tyler walked into the kitchen carrying an armful of dirty plates.
Tall and broad-shouldered, he had the kind of easy, athletic build that made even an old pair of jeans and a navy shirt look good on him.
His dark brown hair was slightly mussed, as though he’d run a hand through it more than once during dinner, and there was a warmth in his brown eyes that Beth had come to trust.
He was handsome, but that wasn’t what mattered most to her. It was the way his face changed whenever he looked at Kayla.
His smile softened now, almost without him seeming to realize it. Even with a house full of people, Kayla was always the first person he noticed.
Beth felt the last tiny piece of worry inside her settle. Tomorrow, she was giving her daughter to a man who adored her.
Beth took the dishes from him. “You’re supposed to be visiting with your family.”
“I am visiting. I’m also trying to stay on your good side.”
“You’re marrying my only child. It’s too late to worry about that.”
Tyler grinned. “Good point.”
He stepped around the island and bent to kiss Kayla.
It was only a quick kiss, but Kayla smiled when he pulled away. “When I left the living room, your father was telling stories about you.”
Tyler groaned. “Which ones?”
“The sprinkler incident has been mentioned. He has photographic evidence.”
Tyler looked toward the living room. “I need to stop this.”
He disappeared through the doorway and Beth smiled at Kayla. “He loves you.”
Kayla twisted the cap off her water bottle. “I know.”
There was no hesitation in her answer. No doubt. Just certainty. Beth hoped her daughter understood how precious that was.
Later, after the plates had been cleared and everyone had found room for pie, Tyler’s father asked Ryan if he had any childhood stories about Kayla.
Ryan was delighted to oblige.
“Don’t you dare tell him about the swimming pool,” Kayla warned.
Ryan leaned back in his chair. “I hadn’t even thought of that one. Thanks for reminding me.”
“Uncle Ryan!”
Everyone laughed.
Beth carried the coffee pot around the table, topping up cups as the stories moved from childhood disasters to family vacations.
Rosalind pulled out the empty chair beside her. “Come and talk to me.”
Beth looked at Peter’s empty coffee cup and Rosalind smiled. “Peter can get his own refill. It’s been more than six months since we’ve seen each other.”
Beth left the coffee pot in the middle of the table. Rosalind lived far enough away that visits had to be planned rather than happening spontaneously, but she and Beth had always stayed in touch.
Rosalind reached into her handbag. “I brought something for Kayla.” She removed an old photograph and handed it to Beth.
Her breath caught. It was Jessie. His hair needed cutting, his T-shirt was rumpled, and he was sitting in the old armchair they’d owned when Kayla was born.
Their newborn daughter lay in his arms.
Jessie wasn’t looking at the camera. He was looking at Kayla.
Beth remembered that expression. Wonder. Pride. Love. Everything he’d felt about becoming a father captured in one unguarded moment.
“I found it when I was sorting through some boxes,” Rosalind said quietly. “I thought Kayla should have it.”
Beth ran her fingertip along the edge of the photograph. “I haven’t seen this in years.”
“I made a copy for you, too.”
Beth passed it to Kayla.
Her daughter went very still. “Oh.”
Tyler leaned closer, looking over her shoulder.
Kayla smiled, but her eyes glistened. “Dad looks so young.”
“We all were,” Beth said.
Rosalind reached across and touched Kayla’s arm. “He’d be so proud of you.”
Kayla swallowed. “I wish he was here.”
“So do I,” Rosalind said softly.
Beth looked down at her hands. For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Ryan cleared his throat. “He’d also be giving Tyler the third degree about now.”
Kayla laughed through her tears. “He would not.”
“He absolutely would,” Ryan insisted. “Marrying his daughter is a serious business.”
Tyler nodded solemnly. “I would have been terrified.”
The heaviness lifted.
Beth smiled at her brother, grateful for him.
By ten o’clock, everyone began leaving.
There were hugs and reminders about times and directions, although Beth suspected every person there had already received tomorrow’s schedule at least twice.
Peter kissed Kayla’s cheek, then hugged Beth.
Rosalind wrapped her in a tight hug. “Try to sleep tonight.”
“I intend to,” Beth told her.
Rosalind pulled back and gave her a knowing look. “No, you don’t. But try anyway.”
Beth laughed. “Good night, Rosalind.”
When the door finally closed, Beth rested her forehead against it. Silence. Beautiful, wonderful silence.
Behind her, Kayla laughed.
Beth turned.
Her daughter was leaning against the wall, looking tired and happy.
“Did you survive, Mom?” Kayla asked.
“Barely.”
Kayla crossed the hall and hugged her.
Beth closed her eyes and held on. Tomorrow, her little girl was getting married. And for the first time all day, Beth let herself stop organizing long enough to enjoy the moment.